Planking or sheathing substitute



Jan. 8,` 1929.

E. B. cARNS PLANKING OR SHEATHING SUBSTITUTE Filed May 5, 1927 P-ArrzNr oF-FICE- EDMUND B. calms, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLANKING 0R SHEATHING SUBSTITUTE.

Application led May 5,

My invention relates to improvements in a structure which may be satisfactorily and beneficially substituted vfor ordinary planking or sheathing. l

My invention also relates to an improved method of caulking a structure like that herein described.

My invention is intended to produce a series of plates which can be conveniently made of metal and may, sometimes, be made of other material, and can be shaped with marginal flanges so that each plate will be particularly stiff by reason of the flanges and, further, to shape these pla-tes so that the flanges will abut, coact, and can be fastened together, thus making the structure, as awhole, tremendously strong, even though the plates be relatively thin.

It will be seen that by this arrangement, plates of the desired shape can be made, and easily assembled and laid so as to break joints, and that when the flanges of these plates are fastened together, the abutting flanges will serve to make the united plates very strong, and they, also,l afford a -convenient means for connecting with braces or other parts of a structure.

Such an arrangement as I refer to, can be used to especial advantage in the building of boat bottoms or hulls, the walls of tanks and other structures, especially those where a water tight wall and a stiff surface is desirable.

` My invention is further intended to construct and shape the plates and flanges so that caulking material can be conveniently run in or placed in channels between adjacent flanges, thus insuring absolutely tight joints.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters represent the corresponding parts in all views.

Figure 1 is a brokenplan view of a boat vbottom built of my planking substitutes;

Figure 2 is a broken perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a broken side elevation of one of the plates and its flange;

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2; and v Figure 5. is an elevation on the line 5--5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the air holes.

For most pur oses, my planking substiytute can be ma e effectively from metallic 1927. Serial No. 188,987.

sheets 10 which are preferably oblong, and, generally, of rectangular shape, 'each plate having a marginal flange 11 formed thereon,

and extending at substantially right angles to the plate body. The plates are not necessarily rectangular, but the flanges of adjacent plates should abut throughout their length so as to coact and form an effective stiening of the plates as well as a tight joint between them. For example, in Figure 1, I have shown the outline ofa boat bottom and, in such a structure, the vplates 10 are cent 'and labuttingplate flanges rigidly fastened together, it will be seen that the several flanges extend lengthwise and laterally of the structure, and act as ribs to effectually' brace it.

Moreover, this arrangement leaves the outer surface of lthe assembled structure smooth and plain while the connected flanges form a convenient means for attaching the braces or struts 14, or for attaching other parts which it may be desirable to connect with the wall surface formed by the assembled plates.

For many structures, and, especially,

.Where the wall formed by the assembled plates is to be water tight, 'the plates and flanges can be provided at the meeting parts with channels 15, 16 and 17, extending ,to the edges andA vends of the plates so that when adjacent plates are brought into the right relation, the channels of the two plates and their flanges will'be complemen-W tary to each other, and form tubes in whic caulking material 18 may be placed.

It will be seen that the arrangementv shown, by which the branch channels 16 and 17 intersect, the channels 15 enables this to be readily done, and the material'Y in the liquid or semi-liquid condition may be run in the ducts formed by the meeting channels, and, for some structures, the assembled platesor a number of them might be submerged in the material which' would p run in and fill the ducts, then, by cooling,

remain in place, for an effective seal. When thus treated, the surplus liquid could be ipoured from the plates, or material for i lling the ducts, can be introduced in any convenient way'.

It will be seen that this method of caulking enables a continuous bond to be applied to the meeting parts ofthe structure described or one analogous to it so that the caulking is absolutely tight, andis econom ically applied.

It will also be noticed that the structure which I have described is particularly adapt ed for use making1 parts of air craft because the plates wit their coactinff and abutting flanges can be so readily shaped and because if some ofthe lighter metals are used Athey can be conveniently made in light thin castings strongly reinforced by the flan es and with a smooth outer surface which will notfoffer much air resistance.

It will, also,4 be noticed that where a qluantty of structures of similar size and s a e are to be produced, the plates for suc structures can be made in duplicate, numbered as desired, and readily assembled.

l. In an air craft construction, a structure of the kind described comprising a plurality of plates flanged on one side with the outer side smooth, said flanges on adjacent plates abutting, coacting and being rigidly secured together,- the plates having channels extending around 'each plate between the outer plate surface and the edge of the flanges with branches extending inwardly between the fianges to receive caulking material.

2. A planking substitute comprising a plurality of plates having inturned abutting flanges fastened together, channels lying wholly between the plates and flanges whereby the plates and flanges meet snugly except at the channels with branches extending inwardly between the flanges to the channels, and caulking material filling the channels, said caulking material being poured into the channel through the branches.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 2nd day of May, 1927.

EDMUND B. CARNS. 

